Question about Grand Mesa

[Delo]

I know it sounds bad but already starting to plan trip out west for next year. I was reading about the Grand Mesa area and I see that the the average snowfall seems to be a lot. This is probably in the wrong area of forum but wondering is Grand Mesa an area to ride with more specific areas in it? How is the riding. I am MN and the average drive for us is around 16-18 hours to get out to where we are heading. I like to try different places. Have only been to the Snowies, Dubious, West Yellowstone, Revelstoke, & Cooke. We went back to West Yellowstone again for the 2nd year in a row this year (like the Lion Head area). I want to go back to Revelstoke but not sure everyone is up for another 24 hour drive, I am. So I saw in Snowest that Grand Mesa averages like 300" of snow a year. Very impressive. Just looking to see what is out there for next year. Thanks.

 

[tmk50]

It seems like early to mid Feb is when we've had the best luck with snow there (just our exp)

Huge area - we have a blast everytime we ride it.

Plan your trip so you are not driving I-70 from Denver during peak ski traffic (Friday nights, Saturday mornings, and Sunday afternoons are terrible for traffic)

tk

 

[driftjumper]

I know it sounds bad but already starting to plan trip out west for next year. I was reading about the Grand Mesa area and I see that the the average snowfall seems to be a lot. This is probably in the wrong area of forum but wondering is Grand Mesa an area to ride with more specific areas in it? How is the riding. I am MN and the average drive for us is around 16-18 hours to get out to where we are heading. I like to try different places. Have only been to the Snowies, Dubious, West Yellowstone, Revelstoke, & Cooke. We went back to West Yellowstone again for the 2nd year in a row this year (like the Lion Head area). I want to go back to Revelstoke but not sure everyone is up for another 24 hour drive, I am. So I saw in Snowest that Grand Mesa averages like 300" of snow a year. Very impressive. Just looking to see what is out there for next year. Thanks.

Delo, I'm from WI and rode the Mesa with some locals a little bit before X Games this year. Most of the time I was just hanging around Electric Mtn Lodge where freestyle riders were practicing, but did get out a little to explore.

I've ridden all the places you list too (the 30+ hour trip for us to Revelstoke is welll worth it by the way!). From the small part of the mesa I witnessed and what the local guys tell me there isn't a lot of extreme terrain, but, it's definitely a great area for boondocking and it's so big there's a lot of untouched areas. Plus the trail system is very well developed so you can parallel a trail and hit up the meadows for a long ways.

I'd definitely like to go back and spend more time there actually riding. Most of the riding I do is with other guys who like to jump and drop and I don't think you'd find a whole lot of that stuff naturally there. I did see some areas you could build some kickers that would have been pretty good. Anyway, my Dad is in his 50's and not so much of a hucker anymore, just likes to boondock through the trees and explore. I'd really like to go out there with him and do that kind of riding.

I highly recommend Electric Mountain Lodge for lodging. They are the nicest people I've ever met with really nice cabins and great food. They even made me cake on my birthday.

 

[Delo]

driftjumper I do like to boondock but I like to try to jump more. I am finding myself really enjoying climbing as well. Each year I try to push myself a little more so I become a better rider. Of course this year I pushed myself right into a tree, a little damage. Do like the boondocking, climbing, and jumping. Not a big tree fan yet. Not that confident in my riding abilities yet I do want to get back to Revelstoke. When we were up there they said it was a bad winter but it was still pretty good. Thanks for the responses.